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Government

answer

is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policy

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Public policy

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is all of the goals a government sets and the various courses of action it pursues as it attempts to realize these goals.

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Legislative power

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the power to make a law and to frame public policies

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Executive power

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The power to execute, enforce, and administer law

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Judicial Power

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The power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within the society

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Constitution

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is the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of government.

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dictatorship

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is a form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority.

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democracy

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is a form of government in which the supreme authority rests with the people.

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state

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is a body of people living in a defined territory who have a government with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority.

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Sovereignty

answer

is having supreme power within its own territory; neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority.

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Autocracy

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a political system governed by a single individual

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oligarchy

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a political system governed by a few people

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unitary government

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a centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single central agency

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federal government

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a form of government in which powers are divided between a central government and several local governments

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division of powers

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Basic principle of federalism; the constitutional provisions by which governmental powers are divided on a geographic basis (in the United States, between the National Government and the States).

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confederation

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a political system in which a weak central government has limited authority, and the states have ultimate power.

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presidential government

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A form of government in which the executive and legislative branches of the government are separate, independent, and coequal

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parliamentary government

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A form of government in which the executive branch is made up of the prime minister, or premier, and that official's cabinet

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Compromise

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to settle a dispute by terms agreeable to both sides

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free enterprise system

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an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods; investments that are determined by private decision rather than by state control, and determined in a free market

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law of supply and demand

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A law which states that when supplies of goods and services become plentiful, prices tend to drop. When supplies become scarcer, prices tend to rise.

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Mixed economy

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an economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of government regulation and promotion

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limited government

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government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has certain rights that government cannot take away

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Representative government

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system of government in which public policies are made by officials selected by the voters and held accountable in periodic elections

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Magna Carta

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This document was signed by King John in 1215. It was the first document that limited the power of the government.

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Petition of Right

answer

Document prepared by Parliament and signed by King Charles I of England in 1628; challenged the idea of the divine right of kings and declared that even the monarch was subject to the laws of the land

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English Bill of Rights

answer

King William and Queen Mary accepted this document in 1689. It guaranteed certain rights to English citizens and declared that elections for Parliament would happen frequently. By accepting this document, they supported a limited monarchy, a system in which they shared their power with Parliament and the people.

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Charter

answer

legal document giving certain rights to a person or company

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Bicameral

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a legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

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proprietary

answer

characteristic of an owner of property; constituting property

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unicameral

answer

one-house legislature

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confederation

answer

is an alliance of independent states for a common purpose, with a weak central government.

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Albany plan of union

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plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 that aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes; the plan was turned down by the colonies and the Crown

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Delegate

answer

to divide up, especially responsibilities

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boycott

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refusal to buy or sell certain products or services

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Repeal

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to cancel a law

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Popular Sovereignty

answer

The concept that political power rests with the people who can create, alter, and abolish government. People express themselves through voting and free participation in government

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Articles of Confed

answer

created in 1777, gov where power is given to state or local gov, each state can govern w/in its own territtory, i vote in continental congress for each state

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Ratification

answer

formal approval

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Framers

answer

Group of delegates who drafted the United States Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787

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Virginia Plan

answer

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that state's share of the U.S. population.

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New Jersey Plan

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Opposite of the Virginia Plan, it proposed a single-chamber congress in which each state had one vote. This created a conflict with representation between bigger states, who wanted control befitting their population, and smaller states, who didn't want to be bullied by larger states.

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Connecticut Compromise

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Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators

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Three-Fifths Compromise

answer

agreement at the constitutional Convention that 3/5 of the slaves in any state be counted in its population

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Federalists

answer

people who supported ratification of the Constitution

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Anti-Federalists

answer

people who opposed the Constitution

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Quorum

answer

The minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action

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Preamble

answer

Introduction to the Constitution

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Articles

answer

Numbered sections of a document. The unamended Constitution is divided into seven articles.

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Constitutionalism

answer

basic principle that government and those who govern must obey the law; the rule of law

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Rule of law

answer

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

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Separation of Powers

answer

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

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Checks and balances

answer

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

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Veto

answer

the power or right to prohibit or reject a proposed or intended act (especially the power of a chief executive to reject a bill passed by the legislature)

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Judicial Review

answer

The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional

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Unconstitutional

answer

not permitted by the Constitution

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Federalism

answer

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

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Amendment

answer

a change in, or addition to, a constitution or law

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Executive agreement

answer

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

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Treaty

answer

a formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries

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Electoral College

answer

a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

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Cabinet

answer

persons appointed by a head of state to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers

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Senatorial Courtesy

answer

a system in which the president submits the name of a candidate for judicial appointment to the senators from the candidate's state before formally submitting it for full senate approval

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Division of Powers

answer

basic principle of federalism; the constitutional provisions by which governmental powers are divided on a geographic basis

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Delegated Powers

answer

Those powers, expressed, implied, or inherent, granted to the National Government by the constitution

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Expressed Powers

answer

powers directly stated in the constitution

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Implied Powers

answer

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution

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Inherent Powers

answer

powers that the national government may exercise simply because it is a government

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Reserved Powers

answer

powers that the Constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the states

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Exclusive Powers

answer

Those powers that can be exercised by the National Government alone

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Concurrent Powers

answer

powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments

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Enabling Act

answer

a provision in a law that confers on appropriate officials the power to implement or enforce the law

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Act of Admission

answer

a congressional act admitting a new state to the union

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Categorical Grant

answer

Grant for which Congress appropriates funds for a specific purpose

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Block Grant

answer

Money given to states for general programs within a broad category

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Project Grant

answer

grants made to States, private agencies for projects

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Political Party

answer

A group that seeks to elect candidates to public office

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Major Parties

answer

In American politics, the republican and the democratic parties.

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Minor Parties

answer

smaller political parties-have little impact on national elections

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Partisanship

answer

government action based on firm allegiance to a political party

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Party in Power

answer

Party that controls the executive branch of government.

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Plurality

answer

Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half.

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Bipartisan

answer

Involving two political parties

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Pluralistic Society

answer

a society which consists of several distinct cultures and groups

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Consensus

answer

general agreement

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Coalition

answer

an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty

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Incumbent

answer

the official who holds an office

question

Electorate

answer

all persons having the right to vote

question

Precinct

answer

The smallest unit of election administration; a voting district

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Split-ticket Voting

answer

voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

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Straight-ticket Voting

answer

Practice of voting for candidates of only one party in an election

question

Suffrage

answer

the right to vote

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Transients

answer

persons living in the state for only a short time

question

Purge

answer

an act of removing by cleansing

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Poll books

answer

the official lists of qualified voters in each precinct

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Poll Tax

answer

tax required before a person can vote

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Gerrymandering

answer

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

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Injunction

answer

a formal command or admonition

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Preclearance

answer

the prior approval by the justice department of changes to or new election laws by certain states

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General Election

answer

a national or state election

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Caucus

answer

a private meeting of party leaders to choose candidates for office

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Direct Primary

answer

Election in which voters choose party nominees

question

Closed Primary

answer

Primary election in which only persons registered in the party holding the primary may vote.

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Open Primary

answer

Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote.

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Absentee Voting

answer

Voting by those unable to get to their regular polling places on election day

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Coattail Effect

answer

the effect of a strong candidate running for an office at the top of a ballot helping to attract voters to other candidates on the party's ticket

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Polling Place

answer

the place where the voters who live in a certain precinct go to vote

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Ballot

answer

a document listing the alternatives that is used in voting

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Public Affairs

answer

those events and issues that concern the people at large

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Public-interest group

answer

an organization that seeks a collective good that will not selectively and materially benefit the members of the group.

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Single-interest group

answer

political action committees that concentrate their efforts exclusively on one issue

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Lobbying

answer

direct contact made by an interest group representative in order to persuade government officials to support the policies their interest group favors

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Grass roots

answer

of or from the people, the average voters

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Propoganda

answer

information designed to promote a cause or spread an idea and usually damage the other side

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Adjourn

answer

to stop proceedings temporarily; move to another place

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Apportion

answer

to divide and give out in shares

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Constituency

answer

voters represented by an elected official; district so represented; group of supporters (or constituents)

question

Oversight function

answer

review by legislative committees of the policies and programs of the executive branch

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Direct tax

answer

a tax paid directly by the person or organization on whom it is levied

question

indirect tax

answer

a tax levied on goods or services rather than on persons or organizations

question

Deficit financing

answer

government policy of spending more money than it is able to bring in through revenues

question

Public debt

answer

all of the money borrowed by the government and not yet repaid, plus the accrued interest on that money; also called the national debt or federal debt

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Commerce power

answer

exclusive power of congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade

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Naturalization

answer

the legal process by which a person is granted citizenship

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Eminent domain

answer

The right of government to take private property for public use

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Appropriate

answer

acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate

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Doctrine

answer

a belief, principle, or teaching; a system of such beliefs or principles; a formulation of such beliefs or principles

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Successor

answer

a person who inherits a title or office

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Impeach

answer

to accuse government officials of misconduct in office

question

Acquit

answer

to find not guilty of a fault or crime

question

Perjury

answer

lying under oath

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Subpoena

answer

a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony

question

Standing committee

answer

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

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Select Committee

answer

a temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

question

Joint Committee

answer

legislative committee composed of members of both houses

question

Conference Committee

answer

a temporary joint committee set up when the House and the Senate have passed different versions of the same bill

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Bill

answer

a proposed law

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Rider

answer

amendment or clause added to a legislative bill

question

Resolution

answer

solution to a problem

question

Filibuster

answer

to attempt to block a bill from becoming law by speaking at length against it

question

Cloture

answer

a procedure used in the senate to limit debate on a bill

question

Veto

answer

rejection of a bill

question

Civil service

answer

the group of people whose job it is to carry out the work of the government

question

Spoils System

answer

The practice of rewarding supporters with government jobs. Jackson made this practice famous for the way he did it on a wide scale.

question

Jurisdiction

answer

(law) The right and power to interpret and apply the law

question

Inferior Courts

answer

lower federal courts beneath the supreme court

question

Exclusive Jurisdiction

answer

authority of only federal courts to hear and decide cases

question

Concurrent jurisdiction

answer

authority for both state and federal courts to hear and decide cases

question

Plaintiff

answer

a person who brings an action in a court of law

question

Defendant

answer

An individual or group being sued or charged with a crime

question

Appellate jurisdiction

answer

the authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts

question

Criminal case

answer

A case in which a defendant is tried for committing a crime as defined by the law

question

Civil case

answer

cases in which two sides disagree over some issue

question

Docket

answer

a court's calendar, showing the schedule of cases it is to hear

question

Majority Opinion

answer

a statement that presents the views of the majority of supreme court justices regarding a case

question

Precedent

answer

an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action

question

Concurring opinion

answer

An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.

question

Dissenting opinion

answer

an opinion disagreeing with the majority decision in a Supreme Court ruling

question

Due process

answer

following established legal procedures, principle in the Fifth Amendment stating that the government must follow proper constitutional procedures in trials and in other actions it takes against individuals

question

Probable Cause

answer

Reasonable cause for issuing a search warrant or making an arrest; more than mere suspicion

question

Exclusionary rule

answer

Improperly gathered evidence may not be introduced in a criminal trial

question

Grand Jury

answer

a group of citizens that decides whether there is sufficient evidence to accuse someone of a crime

question

Indictment

answer

the act of accusing; a formal accusation

question

Double Jeopardy

answer

Putting someone on trial for a crime of which he or she was previously acquitted

question

Miranda rule

answer

the constitutional rights which police must read to a suspect before questioning can occur

question

Role of Congress

answer

to make laws

question

Role of President

answer

higest elected official and represents all Americans, duty to carry out laws, directs foreign policy and makes treaties with other nations & appoint ambassadors, Commander and Chief of the armed forces, suggests new laws and works for their passage, grant pardons and call special sessions of Congress, living symbol of nation, welcome foreign leaders, commemorate national holidays and give medals of honors to national heroes

question

Term length of Congress

answer

Senate: 6 years House: 2 years President: 4 years

question

Formal Qualifications for members of Congress

answer

formal-House resident of state they are elected to rep,25 yrs old, US citizen for 7 years. Senators- 30 yrs old and US citizen for 9 years. Informal-white males middle to upper class

question

Bill of Rights

answer

The first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, containing a list of individual rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.

question

3 types of english colonies

answer

1) Proprietary Colonies- controlled by a proprietor directly appointed by King 2) Charter Colonies- got special rights-- to rule themselves-- mainly independent 3) Royal Colonies- controlled by King himself

question

6 purposes of government

answer

1. to form a more perfect union 2. establish justice 3. insure domestic tranquility 4. provide for the common defense 5. promote the general welfare 6. secure the blessings of liberty

question

6 principles of the Constitution

answer

1. Popular Sovereignty 2. Federalism 3. Checks and Balances 4. Separation of Powers 5. Judicial Review 6. Limited Government

question

Functions of political parties

answer

1. recruiting candidates for public office 2. organizing and running elections 3. Presenting alternative policies to the electorate 4. Accepting responsibility for operating the government 5. acting as the organized opposition to the party in power.

question

History of voting Rights

answer

1. Early U.S. history: In order to vote must meet qualifications a. Religious Affiliation b. Property ownership 2. Mid 1800's: End of property qualifications 3. 1870-Fifteenth Amendment makes it a crimes to deny anyone the right to vote because of the person's race, color of previous servitude 4. 1920- Nineteenth Amendment makes it a crime to deny a woman the right to vote 5. 1924- Indian Citizenship Act gives Native Americans citizenship and the right to vote in federal elections 6. 1961- Twenty-third Amendment gives the district of Columbia three electors for presidential elections 7. 1964-Twenty-fourth amendment bans poll tax to keep poor African Americans from voting in elections 8. 1965- Voting Rights Act of 1965 ends literacy tests and other tests used to keep African Americans from voting; law applies to local, state, and federal elections 9. 1971- Twenty-sixth amendment lowers to the voting age to 18 10. 1993- Federal "Motor Voter" Law enables citizens to register to vote when they register their cars 11. 2002- Help America Vote Act requires states to update their registration and voting systems (know for test: 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, 26th Amendments and Voting Rights Acts 1965, 1993 Motor Voter Law, and 2002 Help America Vote)

question

Civil Rights Legislation

answer

Prohibits discrimination of protected classes based on gender, race, color, religion, and national origin. it is enforced by the EEOC, and applies to employers with 15 or more employees

question

How a bill becomes a law

answer

1. written 2. discussed in committee + voted 3. discussed in House of Reps. and Senate + voted on in both 4. President signs it or vetoes it (which brings back to Congress, needs 2/3 vote to override veto)

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